Sporting champions honoured at the Geraldton Guardian Mid West Sports Awards

The massive year in sport across the region was wrapped up last week with the 51st Geraldton Guardian Mid West Sports Awards. The stars were out at Australia’s longest running regional sports awards, with many waiting to see who would take out the top gongs. Johny Narkle was named the senior sports star of the year for his breakout performance with the Geraldton Buccaneers in the NBL1 West finals, which shot him to national stardom. Khyan Townsend won the junior sports star award for his efforts which included travelling to Kazakhstan for the Taekwondo World Championships earlier this year. It was the first time an Indigenous duo took out the junior and senior awards since it was merged with the Aboriginal sports star of the year. Mid West Academy of Sports athlete of the year winner Jy Thurstun was the only recipient who couldn’t accept an award in person, because he is in Mexico for the Softball World Cup. Narkle wasn’t the only Bucc to be recognised, with the Geraldton Buccaneers winning team of the year after their championship season where they went undefeated at home. The Buccs off-court work was also praised, with Mandy Lalor winning official of the year for her dedication to keeping up with the stats on the sideline. The sports awards honour people in all areas of sport, and Paula Steenson was highlighted as the administrator of the year. Steenson works year round with the Geraldton Clay Target Club and helps put on the Crayfish Carnival, which is the biggest of its kind in the country. In his second year of being on stage at the awards, well-known boxing coach Jake Peacock this time won sports personality of the year. Legend in the polocrosse game, Jane Marriot, added coach of the year to the extensive trophy cabinet of the Australian team coach. The Geraldton Board Riders, which put on multiple big-time events each year, were recognised as the club of the year for their work. Geraldton equestrian club president and long-time member Ross Newman was recognised at the local achiever of the year. The ATLAS inclusion award was presented to the Sportsmans cricket club and team manager Declan Thill, who has become a valued member of the club. Given all the worthy nominees and winners that the past year in sports has delivered, the year ahead looks set to be even bigger. 51ST GERALDTON GUARDIAN MID WEST SPORTS AWARDS WINNERS SHANE LOVE MLA & COLIN DE GRUSSA MLC OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR Mandy Lalor - Basketball YOUNG MOTORS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR Paula Steenson - Clay Target SPORTFIRST GERALDTON COACH OF THE YEAR Jane Marriot - Polocrosse RAY WHITE BRIAN ‘PUTTER’ SMITH SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR Jake Peacock - Boxing KICK SOLUTIONS ATLAS INCLUSION AWARD Sportsmans Cricket Club & Declan Thill GRAEME & JANE BYLUND CLUB OF THE YEAR Geraldton Board Riders GERALDTON GUARDIAN LOCAL ACHIEVER AWARD Ross Newman - Equestrian GERALDTON TOYOTA MID WEST ACADEMY OF SPORT ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Jy Thurstun - Softball COMMUNITY BANK GERALDTON BENDIGO BANK TEAM OF THE YEAR Geraldton Buccaneers RED DUST HOLDINGS JUNIOR SPORTS STAR OF THE YEAR Khyan Townsend - Taekwondo CROTHERS CONSTRUCTION SENIOR SPORTS STAR OF THE YEAR Johny Narkle - Basketball